Federal Grant Status
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current status of federal grants and what types of payments are undergoing manual review?
As of April 21, 2025, VDEM received notice that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have stopped the manual review process for certain grants and that they will resume processing grant payment requests and obligations using the same processes and procedures used prior to the implementation of the manual review process.
Specific questions regarding FEMA's grants or timelines should be directed towards FEMA.
What are the different types of federal grant programs?
For a description of the different federal grant programs, please visit: https://www.fema.gov/grants
Please note that the grants listed above are different than the funding provided to support disaster response and recovery from a declared disaster. Information on disaster assistance can be found at https://www.fema.gov/assistance.
What is the status of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grants?
In April 2025, FEMA announced that they were ending the BRIC program and canceling all BRIC applications from Fiscal Years 2020-2023.
There are two categories of projects associated with BRIC: Awarded and obligated (fully or partially obligated) and Applications identified for further review. All the projects in question were still in the application/review phase and funds were not approved prior to the program being cancelled. This includes the applications submitted by the Cities of Richmond and Portsmouth.
VDEM never received an official award letter from FEMA for these projects and funding was never obligated. It’s also important to note that for BRIC projects, any work done by a local government prior to an award is ineligible.
According to an advisory sent this month, FEMA will be reaching out and coordinating with recipients on obligated projects. The agency’s website will be updated with a full list of projects selected for funding over the last four years. The status will show what is fully obligated, partially obligated and cancelled.
- Recipients will be able to complete fully obligated projects that have started construction and will be able to expend all associated funds. FEMA will also obligate management costs associated with partially or fully obligated projects.
- Fully obligated projects that have not started construction will not be approved and will end.
- For phased projects, FEMA Regions will work closely with applicants on already obligated projects to determine the best path forward for those projects. This may include ending the project after the completion of Phase 1 or at another appropriate stopping point.
- FEMA will not be extending project deadlines without the Senior Official Performing the Duties of the FEMA Administrator’s approval.
- Management costs will only continue for partially or fully obligated projects
Where can I find a list of Virginia’s BRIC applications that were cancelled?
Please note that none of the applications listed were previously approved or had any funds awarded prior to cancellation.
How is the review of grants affecting Hurricane Helene and 2025 flooding relief?
Disaster funding is still being awarded and continues to be passed through to the appropriate recipient. Unfortunately, disaster recovery reimbursement processes can take a long time. This is why we tell people that recovery can take years.
As our state and local governments request reimbursement for eligible costs, and FEMA makes funds available, we pass the money through. As a reminder, this review of federal grants has no impact on state funds that have been made available to support ongoing recovery efforts such as the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) funds.